Stage News Roundup: Screenings, Streaming and a Streetcar Named Desire

The popularity of stage shows being beamed to cinemas all around the world is finally taking off and this summer there’s been some really exciting shows announced. From Broadway to the Fringe, you can get your fix of theatre without leaving your home with theatre companies live streaming performances; it’s an exciting time to be a theatre fan. Here are some of the latest announcements.

Of Mice and Men.

The Broadway production of Of Mice and Men starring James Franco and Chris O’Dowd is going to become the first Broadway production to be broadcast as part of National Theatre Live. The dates of the screenings are yet to be announced but this is a great opportunity for millions of theatre lovers around the world to see this highly praised production.

Stream Wonderland

This weekend Hampstead Theatre’s production of Wonderland by Beth Steel is to be live-streamed for free. It will be will broadcast via its own website and the Guardian’s website from 7.30pm on July 26th.

An on-demand film of the show, which is directed by Edward Hall, will be available for 72 hours after the live streaming on both websites.

The show marks the 30th anniversary of the Miners’ strike and gives a 360-degree look at the clashing ideologies that took place at that time. Hampstead Theatre’s artistic director Hall said: “We’re thrilled to present our third live and free streamed production to the world. Our aim is to live free stream as many of our productions as possible so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy free quality theatre.”

Streetcar Named Desire

The Young Vic’s forthcoming production of A Streetcar Named Desire has become one of its fastest selling productions ever. The presence of Gillian Anderson may have something to do with this; she’s been giving amazing performance after amazing performance lately and this is sure to be no different. If you didn’t manage to get tickets, NT Live have picked this performance up for their autumn programme.

When asked about the production, Anderson said: “I’ve never seen a production where I felt I was a fly on the wall in New Orleans and I felt that that version of it would not only be exciting to perform, but the version that I’d want to see. I’d want to sit in that room and be hot and sweaty with the actors. And after I’d had that idea there was no changing my mind… I have completely fallen in love with Blanche and I was unprepared for that.”

The performance will be shown in cinemas globally at 7pm on the 16th September.